UK - Inspiring the Future of Theatre is a Society of London Theatres and UK Theatre campaign in partnership with Education & Employers, to showcase the range of careers available in theatre to young people, and encourage and strengthen connections between schools and their local theatres. A drive was launched in April to recruit industry ambassadors (particularly from off-stage roles) who will be matched with schools across the UK, taking part in events to lay the groundwork for young people to make informed and ambitious career decisions. Industry professionals (no matter the job type or level) can sign up to be an ambassador. It is a straightforward process, and you will receive guidance and support from the campaign ahead of your school visit. Already around 600 theatre professionals from artistic directors, costume cutters and lighting designers
UK - The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre have launched Theatre Helpline, a free 24-hour phone and email service supporting theatre professionals with any issue affecting their health and wellbeing. The confidential resource, which has been available since June, offers support and advice on a range of personal and professional topics, including bullying, physical and mental health, finance, careers and retirement issues. It is open to anyone working in theatre, whether in-house or freelance. SOLT and UK Theatre are working with Wales-based company Connect Assist to provide the helpline. Callers will be given a safe place to share worries and concerns and be provided with the resources they need to seek professional help if necessary. Like other existing support services in the UK, Theatre Helpline is not a whistleblowing service. Theatre Helpline (
Europe - The PLASA Awards for Innovation are now open for entries. Product manufacturers and developers are invited to enter the annual awards by 17 August (Friday). Successfully nominated products will feature on the Innovation Gallery throughout the PLASA Show (16-18 September, London Olympia), with winners announced at a special ceremony on 17 September (Monday). Entries will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts, with up to eight awards, including the possibility of Gold Award, set to be given to products and solutions that demonstrate a new style of thinking, improve technical practice and safety, introduce new technology, materials or techniques, or offer new commercial advantages. The PLASA Award for Sustainability may be presented to a solution that achieves significant power reduction, has a positive impact on the environment or makes an effective us
Logistical problems - Morrissey's UK and European tour dates this have been postponed due to "logistical problems". His management made the announcement, saying the issues are "beyond our control". The former Smiths frontman, 59, had been due to play two gigs at Castlefield Bowl in his home city of Manchester on 7 and 8 July. Other shows had been scheduled for Reading, Portsmouth and Edinburgh in July. A statement shared on Morrisey's official Facebook page said: "Due to logistical problems beyond our control, the UK/European Morrissey concerts scheduled for July will be postponed. We deeply regret any inconvenience to the fans.” The Bard’s Back - A new production of Shakespeare in Love will tour the UK later this year. Lee Hall’s stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film ran in the West End in 2014. A new version of the play, which has music by Pa
UK - Aurora has opened newly upgraded pre-visualisation suites at their North London base. Located directly adjacent to the company’s extensive lighting store in Whetstone, Aurora’s new pre-viz and programming facility provides lighting directors and crews access to a range of lighting tools installed specifically to assist in the creative design and technical planning of all manner of productions. Forming part of an on-going pan-company programme of investment, this newly upgraded installation features MA and Hog lighting desks, dedicated computers running both WYSIWYG and MA3D software and 4K monitors. Created with the customer in mind the self-contained area offers relaxed, informal surroundings, including a smart breakout lounge. Conveniently situated at the company’s North London complex, the suites also benefit from direct access to the huge on-site l
UK - Central London camera hire facility Focus24 is hosting an event for guests to experience its new camera and grip facility. Along with its purpose-built prep rooms, optical centre and engineering facilities, the company will be showcasing some of the latest additions to its growing inventory. Also on demonstration will be bespoke MoVI packages available from Motion24, complete with a tracking vehicle. The event takes place on Wednesday 11 July from 4pm at Focus24 9 Vision, Kendal Avenue, London W3 0AF. Attendance can be confirmed via social@focus24.tv. (Jim Evans)
UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) will be hosting a free Nexo UK open day at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax. The event will take place on 25 July (Wednesday) over two half-day sessions and will comprise demos of various Nexo product ranges, including the small ID series, the point-source PS series, the Geo M10 system as well as the venue’s own Geo M6 house PA system, which AC-ET supplied. Representatives from AC-ET’s specialist audio division and from Nexo will provide a full product demonstration and interactive listening sessions with each speaker series. Shure will also be attending the event with their new Axient Digital wireless system. Topics to be explored during the sessions will include Nexo power and processing; a general overview of line array theory; and an overview of the Nexo NS1 system design software. The event is also an o
UK - Martin Audio has completed a management buyout (MBO) from global audio specialist Loud Audio. The MBO has been backed by private equity investor LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group. As part of the deal, LDC, alongside the Martin Audio management helmed by MD Dom Harter, has invested £12m in the company. The investment will enable the business to further develop its product range, improve its sales and marketing capabilities through the extension of its global distribution network and enhance its digital infrastructure through software development, says Martin Audio. As part of the deal, LDC investment directors Troy Harris-Speid and Philip Weston will join the board, alongside James Browning who will join as non-executive director. Dom Harter, managing director of Martin Audio, said: “Our success to date has been underpinned by providing
USA - The inaugural American Knight of Illumination Awards (KOI-USA), has announced the full judging panel for the five awards in the Concert Touring & Events category. Concert Touring & Events judging panel: John Featherstone, principal lighting designer and founder of Lightswitch and chair of the judging panel, has worked with The Pretenders, Van Halen, Duran Duran and Bryan Adams Barry Lather, creative director, began his career starring as a dancer in Michael Jackson's film Captain EO, and has since gone on to direct world tours for Usher, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Carrie Underwood Angie Warner, touring manager for Guns'n'Roses, has more than 18 years' experience in the industry and has previously worked with NSYNC and Imagine Dragons Yelena Filipchuk, artist and co-founder of installation art collective HYBYCOZO, creator of large-scale,
UK - Triplex is the latest company to become an Adamson certified re-seller and rental partner appointed by Adamson’s UK distributor The Warehouse. Based in London, Triplex was founded in 2013 by Ross Cornwall, Mark Sunderland and Sam O’Riordan. Triplex specialises in turnkey audio rental for concert touring, events & private parties. Alongside the rental business, they run a thriving install arm serving houses of worship, clubs & bars amongst others. Jake Rudd, project manager at Triplex, comments: “As a touring engineer I have been stunned mixing on Adamson systems. We are so pleased to join with The Warehouse to deliver Adamson products to our clients. The team always strive to provide products that we believe will provide the best for our clients’ needs and Adamson ticks this box completely.” Derek Blair, director of The Warehouse says: “T
UK - Loudspeaker manufacturer, EM Acoustics, has significantly expanded its manufacturing facility in Surrey, UK. Part of the expansion includes the investment in new hi-tech machinery to enable much more of the manufacturing process to be performed in house. “We first moved into our current building in 2014,” explains operations director, Mike Wheeler. “We’ve gradually expanded as space has become available, and we now occupy just over 15,000 sq ft, which is three times our original surface. We’ve also tripled staffing levels since 2014 as our operations have expanded. The building now houses just about every part of the production process – from woodworking at one end of the factory, through warehousing, crossover assembly, final production, QC and shipping.” Apart from the increase in space which has enabled everything to be brought under the same ro
USA - Audinate has announced the immediate availability of its Dante Certification Level 3 - Advanced Dante Networking training online. This is an online version of the in-person Dante Certification Level 3, launched at InfoComm 2017 and conducted globally since. The Level 3 training course is an advanced level course aimed at those who have already been using Dante and want to gain more insight and knowledge in setting up and managing larger Dante-enabled networking systems. Building on what was covered in previous levels of Dante trainings, the Level 3 course delves deeper into various advanced networking concepts, mixed-use networks, networking best practices, and troubleshooting techniques. The online version of the course is designed in such a way that it can be taken in short modules. The modular nature of the course will enable those who are familiar with some
UK - Star Events supplied the best seats in the house for Fly By Night, artist Duke Riley’s s show featuring 1,500 pigeons wearing tiny LEDs, which took flight in Thamesmead at the weekend. Part of LIFT 2018, London’s premiere festival of international performance, and more than 12 months in the planning, Riley adapted Fly By Night from its New York debut in 2016 for three shows in the capital. The performances paid homage to pigeons’ Great War effort, tiny LEDs replacing the messages pigeons carried between the lines from 1914 to 1918. Called from their purpose-built, illuminated coop at dusk by Riley’s whistle, the specially trained birds lit up the sky in an impressive display over Thamesmead, which was home to munitions factories 100 years ago. Rachel King, Star Events’ project manager, comments: "Alongside a 310-seat grandstand
UK - Now in its eighth year, the Gus Dudgeon Foundation and JAMES Summer School 2018 will be held at Leeds Becket University. The format of the Gus Dudgeon Foundation and JAMES Summer Course sees students from JAMES accredited university courses being selected to work over five days with industry professionals and experience the recording and mixing process in a real-life situation. Commencing on 9 July, the programme will once again be led by producer and Leeds Beckett Senior Lecturer Ken Scott, who will guide 13 students through the course. Murray Dudgeon, Gus' brother, comments: "I am delighted that the 8th Gus Dudgeon Foundation Masterclass is taking place again this year. The course is a great way to celebrate and share some of Gus’ talent, and pass on real experience and learning to a new generation. I hope that as in previous years the attendees find the
UK - Specialist equipment supplier and production house Light Fantastic Production Services applies its stock of Robe MegaPointe fixtures to a variety of live events. Having made a significant investment in Robe MegaPointe fixtures to extend its lighting inventory, Light Fantastic has been keeping these versatile fixtures busy throughout the spring season. LFPS director, Rob Myer, says: “We have a long-standing relationship with Robe so naturally we are delighted with the performance of our MegaPointes. Over the past few months we have been making great use of them on a host of projects, from creating aerial searchlight effects and gobo projection across building facades to adding incredible theatrical looks to prestigious large scale live events, including a particularly spectacular product launch installation on a roof at Chelsea Harbour.” Working both on its own
Australia - Dreamweavers is an event production company serving greater Australia as a full-service force in integrated event creation and production. Clair Brothers is now an integral part of the Dreamweavers considerable arsenal of technology. “We were invited by Wayne Grosser, Clair Brothers’ rep here in Australia, to take a listen to a full range of Clair Brothers systems,” explains Sam Pomana, general manager for Dreamweavers. “Wayne is familiar with our mission to stay on the cutting edge of event production innovation. He knows we have to - the nature of our creativity depends on it.” According to Grosser, the Clair Brothers kiTCurve system seemed like the perfect fit. Kyle Hodges, Dreamweavers audio engineer and producer puts it like this, “Wayne took the opportunity to demo several Clair Brothers systems for us as points of reference. They all soun
India - Madrix, the German lighting control solution developed by ionage, received a PALM Sound & Light award for Lighting Product Innovation at the PALM Expo India held in Mumbai on 31 May - 2 June. Madrix 5, the latest version, was recognised for “bringing in exemplary innovations in lighting technology and opening up lighting creativity opportunities for lighting design engineers.” The 64-bit Madrix 5 promises the biggest performance boost the software has seen since it was first released in 2005. The new software also improves any compatible system, so users may not need to deploy new hardware in order to take advantage of the speed upgrade. It offers a dark and light UI themes, new effects and filters, while VJing is enhanced thanks to the new capabilities to directly play back the audio track of videos. The annual PALM Expo, held across five halls a
Cultural Development - The government has detailed its intention to replicate the impact of Hull City of Culture in smaller towns and cities across the country through a newly created fund. One of the commitments in its recent Industrial Strategy, the £20m Cultural Development Fund has been set up to target geographical locations as opposed to specific venues or art forms, and is available for culture, heritage and creative industries projects. Areas will be able to bid for up to £7m to help fund several projects in a particular location, in order to “help regeneration, create jobs and maximise the impact of investment”. The government said the initiative, which follows hot on the heels of Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017, is anticipated to allow smaller towns and cities to replicate Hull’s success by achieving a similar local impact. Theatre and performan
Canada - MDG, Montreal-based haze and fog generators manufacturer, has won the 2018 ESTim Award for Best Manufacturing Company from the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Montreal. The award was accepted by MDG CEO Martin Michaud and vice-president of finances Jacques Foisy. The 30th annual ESTim Awards ceremony took place in Montreal on 3 May to celebrate the outstanding achievements of businesses and organisations across the city. The ceremony was followed on 14 May by the official signing of the visitor’s book in the Borough of Montreal-North where MDG is located. This honour was carried out by Martin Michaud at the invitation of Christine Black, accompanied by Jacques Foisy, in the presence of the Borough Council. “This is an occasion I would not have missed,” says Michaud. “One can never be tired in the face of such an honour.” (Jim Evans)
UK - HD Pro Audio is holding a Professional Audio Technology Showcase in conjunction with the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) on 2 July (Monday), from 12:00pm to 5:00pm at the Electric Theatre in Guildford. The event will feature the dLive mixing console platform from Allen & Heath, the latest plugins from Waves, the 3D IEM system from KLANG:technologies, Shure Axient digital wireless microphones and loudspeakers from EM Acoustics. Specialists from each manufacturer will be on hand to present their respective products and technologies, and assist with hands-on demonstrations. Matt Russell, lecturer at ACM, comments: "At ACM, we pride ourselves on offering real-world immersive learning experiences for our students. We are therefore thrilled to be working with HD Pro Audio to host this Professional Audio Technology Showcase Event where our students can meet those
Hungary - Out Board has appointed Votec Kft. to distribute TiMax SoundHub spatial audio and showcontrol processors and TiMax Tracker performer tracking systems throughout Hungary. The relationship was triggered by owner Sándor Elek’s “passion for ground-breaking audio products” and is reinforced by Votec’s in-depth technical experience of delivering high-end live sound for events and installations. Elek comments: “We had a productive workshop session with Dave Haydon here in Szeged and are very pleased to distribute the impressive TiMax range of products in Hungary. It is a product that has a great deal to offer theatres and AV installations here, and the key for us now is to focus on educating our customers about its unique benefits.” Out Board director, Dave Haydon, adds: “TiMax sits best with sales and support partners who share our passion for
Spain - German wireless event lights manufacturer Astera has announced the appointment of Entertainment Equipment Supplies (EES) as its exclusive distributor for Spain. Effective immediately, EES will be distributing and servicing the German brand’s battery-powered entertainment and film lighting X-series. EES is a distribution company specialising in lighting equipment, accessories and lighting solutions leader in the entertainment sector based in the Basque Country. Other brands it represents include Robe, Philips Vari-Lite and Robert Juliat. (Jim Evans)
Europe - As the professional entertainment lighting industry continues to seek an exemption for specialist lighting from the European Union’s Ecodesign regulation, an industry task force has said the situation is “far more positive” and “greatly improved” following the latest round of talks with the EU. The EU DG Energy has now passed a revised draft of the regulation, its content expected to be revealed in a few weeks as it progresses through the committee stages of the process. The Professional Entertainment Lighting Products Ecodesign task group – the body representing the industry during the public consultation – has confirmed there will be a ‘comprehensive’ list of exempted lamp base types, but some specialist lamps used for non-entertainment purposes may not be included. The full content of the regulation will be publicly avai
UK - Arena Events Group has acquired specialist barrier and fencing company Events Solution. The acquisition, worth £2.5 million, will see the Worksop-based company integrated into Arena’s current UK business. Events Solution founder Richard Herberts is stepping away from the business, with James Wood set to continue as MD. Arena UK & Europe CEO, Grahame Muir, comments: “Our business strategy is to provide a comprehensive suite of services to event organisers. Events Solution is a very well run and invested business and one we believe has significant growth opportunities. Having a new northern base works strategically very well and we aim to replicate this at our Cambridgeshire hub next year. “Building on this years’ recent acquisition of furniture specialist hire companies, GLD and portable refrigeration supplier Ice House Rentals, the addit
